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Introduction Text In high school, I was very heavy but by senior year, eating small portions (and diet pills), I lost weight and started college looking great! at least for me... But, it didn't last! I became busy in school with a demanding schedule, no regular eating pattern, and a hectic lifestyle. I gained the freshman fifteen (and then some). By the time I graduated, I was carrying more than forty pounds of extra weight and I was unhappy, self-conscious and insecure. In July 2004, my sister Jessica became engaged. She was getting married in October 2005 and I was asked to be the maid of honor. In spite of wanting to look my best for her wedding, I had so little time and energy for anything but assignments and work, that I had no inclination to start doing anything about my weight. My mother had a heart-to-heart talk with me in December 2004. I was angry, first at her, then at myself but I had to admit that she was right - I would be the unhappiest person in the limelight at my sister's wedding looking the way I did. I told her, "I know that I have to do this, and I will, but not now. Let me concentrate on graduating and once that's out of the way, I will do whatever you tell me to!" Mom agreed but warned that the day after graduation in May, 2005 she would be on my case about exercising and changing my eating habits - AND SHE DID JUST THAT! When I started, I could barely do ten minutes on the treadmill. I'd sweat and my heart would pound so hard, I'd beg to stop. My mother encouraged me to stick with it, promising that it would get easier and it did! I worked HARD, running every single day, learning to eat proper portions, weightlifting and making sensible food choices. In five months, I lost the weight, toned my body and looked better than ever at my sister's wedding. I couldn't have been happier! Doing it right this time has helped me to maintain what I accomplished. I don't always exercise but I still watch what I eat and I've learned that small portions of the foods I love go a long way - a major difference from the "before" me! UPDATE! im now 22 lbs lighter than i was just last dec (146) and its all been from continuing this lifestyle change! its amazing how difficult it was in the beginning and now its almost done effortlessly :) you can do it too! ************************************** just want to thank everyone who nominated me for spark people motivator! this website has been such an amazing tool, a motivation in itself, its been wonderful sharing our stories and sticking together as we create our futures!

NUMBER 1 goal in life is to be happy! To maintain my current weight... and if i lose some hey thats great! only thing is i gotta keep whatever i lose off too!!! makes it fun :) Since i've started spark i've lost over 30lbs! though my only goal when i began was to maintain the 140 i got to for my sissy's wedding... June 07: 135 Sept 07: 130 Dec 07: 125 Feb 08: 120 April 08: 115 July 08: 110

"For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice - no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service." -John Burroughs stolen from DTRMINED's blog entry ;) FANTASTIC Portion control. one of the most important things i learned along the way! only learned when i started working out and felt like i was paying for my food at the gym! ahh the lessons learned no "miracle" diet pill can teach!

100% JERSEY GIRL! Artist specializing in ceramics and pottery. Teacher of art and ceramics. Lover of nature and life!

I'm in good company on SparkPeople with my mother BEMORESTUBBORN and my sister JYBEDOYA. We have all come through this weight loss journey together, supporting one another and working hard on our individual goals. ps a few of you have asked my height: barely 5'1

Add a Link Check out my ceramic gallery at settie.etsy.com
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